24 Low-Cost Cruises to Take This Spring

Spring can be one of the most challenging times to score a bargain on a cruise. That's due in large part to spring break and Easter, when many travelers are cruise-bound. If you want to trim cruise costs, one way to is to follow cruise lines on social media, where they're likely to share last-minute sales, or you can sign up for alerts from their websites. Here are two dozen trips in April and May that come in at $100 per night or less. Unless otherwise indicated, all prices were identified in March and are based on double occupancy for an interior cabin. (Note: Prices and availability are subject to change.)

Departure: April 9
Starting Price: $309 (about $77 a night)
For those on the hunt for a quick and affordable cruise experience, Carnival is offering a four-night sailing to the Bahamas in early April. Departing from Miami, the ship will visit Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas (the cruise line's private island), as well as Nassau. There's also one full day at sea to relax and enjoy the ship amenities, which include movies under the stars at Carnival's Seaside Theater, a comedy club, sports bar, kids camp, and more.

Departure: April 29 
Starting Price: $601 (about $86 a night)
Spend a sun soaked week exploring the Caribbean on the Jewel of the Seas, which will take passengers to some of the region's top destinations. The seven-night journey includes visits to Frederiksted and St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; and Fort-De-France, Martinique. The cruise begins and ends in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Departure: April 9
Starting Price: $369 (about $74 a night)
This western Caribbean cruise from Carnival offers an alternative departure point, leaving from New Orleans. The five-night sailing includes the popular ports of Cozumel, Mexico, and the Yucatan. There are also two days at sea to explore the Carnival Triumph, a ship with onboard spaces inspired by cities from around the world. For the kids, there's an Underground Tokyo video arcade and three supervised youth spaces.

Departure: April 29
Starting Price: $522 ($75 a night)
A slightly different take on the western Caribbean itinerary, Royal Caribbean will bring cruisers to such ports as George Town, Grand Cayman; Cozumel, Mexico; Belize City, Belize and Costa Maya, Mexico. The seven-night cruise departing from Tampa, Florida will take place aboard Rhapsody of the Seas, a ship that offers a variety of dining venues, eight bars and lounges, a rock-climbing wall and a state of the art fitness center.

Departure: April 15
Starting Price: $249 (about $62 a night)
For West Coast travelers, Carnival is offering a brief getaway to Catalina Island, California and Ensenada, which is Baja's third-largest city and locally referred to as the "Cinderella of the Pacific." The four-night cruise departs from Los Angeles and includes one day at sea.

Departure: April 23
Starting Price: $304 (about $76 a night)
Yet another quick and budget-friendly four-night sailing from Carnival, this one visits the western Caribbean port of Cozumel, Mexico. The ship departs from Miami, Florida and also includes a visit Key West. There's also one day at sea, aboard Carnival Victory, during which the kids can explore Seuss at Sea and Camp Ocean. For the adults, there's the Serenity Adults-Only Retreat.

Departure: April 30
Starting Price: $376 (about $94 a night)
Royal Caribbean will offer its own version of the whirlwind Bahamas getaway this spring, taking travelers from Miami to Nassau, Cococay, and Key West before returning home. While this itinerary does not include any free days on the ship, the Enchantment of the Seas does offer much to enjoy before or after port calls, including a bungee trampoline, rock climbing wall, yoga classes, and a retro-style bar.

Departure: April 14
Starting Price: $579 (about $83 a night)
The MSC Seaside, a brand new ship, will spend seven nights in April cruising between Philipsburg, St. Maarten; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Nassau, Bahamas. The Seaside was just completed in December 2017 and features nine restaurants, 20 bars and a unique waterfront promenade that wraps around the ship and offers a variety of places to shop, eat and sunbathe. There are also panoramic elevators and glass walkway Infinity Bridges providing stellar ocean views. If all of that's not enough, the ship also includes a bowling alley, ropes course and the Forest AquaVenture and Adventure Park.

Departure: April 29
Starting Price: $479 (about $68 a night)
Norwegian's intriguing take on the western Caribbean this spring will bring cruisers to Costa Maya, Mexico; Harvest Caye, Belize; Roatan, Honduras; and Cozumel, Mexico. The seven-night getaway departs from Miami, Florida, and also includes two full days at sea aboard the Norwegian Getaway, a ship that offers more than 25 dining experiences and an aqua park with five multi-story slides.

Departure: April 22
Starting Price: $999 (about $67 a night)
For those seeking to explore slightly beyond the Caribbean, Holland America offers a one-way San Diego to Ft. Lauderdale sailing that passes through the Panama Canal. The 15-night trip will bring cruisers to a long list of interesting and colorful ports including Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; Huatulco, Mexico; Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala; Corinto, Nicaragua; and Puerto Caldera. After passing through the Panama Canal, it's on to Cartagena, Colombia and the Bahamas before docking in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Departure: April 20
Starting Price: $1,099 (about $73 a night)
Princess Cruises' Panama Canal trip starts on the East Coast, from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and hits such ports as Oranjestad, Aruba; Cartagena, Colombia; Fuerte Amador, Panama; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; and Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala, before docking in Los Angeles, California. The 15-night cruise also includes a two-day canal experience and numerous days at sea.

Departure: May 9
Starting Price: $487 (about $97 a night)
This bargain Cuba ticket is not likely to last long. Royal Caribbean will sail from Tampa, Florida and spend two days docked in Havana, allowing you to explore a great deal of the color and culture of the island's fascinating capital city. After that it's on to Cozumel, Mexico, before returning home. The five-night escape also includes one day at sea aboard the Majesty of the Seas, which received a bow to stern makeover in 2016.

Departure: May 9
Starting Price: $616 ($74 a night)
If warm weather isn't an essential part of your spring cruise, Alaska is another fascinating option that can also be budget friendly. Princess Cruises will take travelers from Vancouver, British Columbia to Juneau, Skagway, through Glacier Bay National Park and to Ketchikan, before heading back to port. This seven-night getaway also includes one day at sea. Amenities aboard the Island Princess include a lap pool, nine-hole putting course and state-of-the-art fitness center.

Departure: May 7
Starting Price: $999 (about $71 a night)
Departing from Seattle, Holland America's 14-night Grand Land Explorer trip takes passengers past Vancouver Island and then on to a long list of Alaskan destinations including Ketchikan, Tracy Arm Fjord, Juneau, Icy Strait Point, Anchorage, Homer, Kodiak, Hubbard Glacier, and Sitka. This interesting itinerary also includes Victoria, British Columbia, before the Zaandam makes its way back to Seattle.

Departure: May 20
Starting Price: $599 ($86 per night)
Bermuda, an island famed for its pastel colored houses and pink sand beaches, will be the focus of Celebrity's May 20 sailing from New Jersey. The seven-night cruise offers three full days in port at King's Wharf, Bermuda and three days at sea. The ship, Celebrity Summit, is a customer favorite and received a full makeover in 2016. Amenities include a Canyon Ranch Spa Club and two pools.

Departure: May 12
Starting Price: $599 (about $86 a night)
Holland America will also offer a Bermuda getaway this May for less than $100 per night. Leaving from Boston, Massachusetts, this seven-night cruise allows travelers to spend four days in Bermuda, while the ship is docked in Hamilton. There's also a day at sea en route to Bermuda and on the return to Boston as well, during which cruisers can participate in cooking demonstrations at The Culinary Arts center take in a movie at the Wajang Theater or simply relax poolside.

Departure: May 21
Starting Price: $294 (about $74 a night)
May is certainly a busy month for Caribbean cruises, but there are still a few budget friendly options to be had. Carnival, for instance, offers a four-night escape departing from Miami, Florida, that includes a day in Key West, Florida, and also a day in Cozumel, Mexico. Travelers will also have one day onboard as the ship heads back to Miami. The Carnival Victory offers Camp Ocean and Seuss at Sea for young sailors, the Twister Waterslide, and a Serenity Adults-Only Retreat.

Departure: May 12
Starting Price: $653 (about $93 a night)
Yet another way to score an affordable spring sailing in the Caribbean is to sail from Puerto Rico. Royal Caribbean's seven-night Southern Caribbean itinerary includes some of the region's loveliest ports such as Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Basseterre, St. Kitts; St. John's Antiqua; Castries, St. Lucia; and Bridgetown, Barbados. The ship, Freedom of the Seas, is another customer favorite and includes 22 bars and lounges, a rock climbing wall, an ice skating rink, and Flow Rider, a wave simulator.

Departure: May 11
Starting Price: $615 (about $88 a night)
If visiting the Bahamas is on your agenda, Royal Caribbean offers a seven-night cruise that includes a day in Nassau and a day on Cococay, the cruise line's private island in the region. The ship also stops in Orlando, Florida, for one day, in case Walt Disney is also on your must-do list. And in between all the ports, there's three days at sea to relax poolside.

Departure: May 5
Starting Price: $599 (about $86 a night)
The Mexican Riviera is one of the most popular cruise itineraries, which means it can be difficult to score an affordable rate on this particular destination come spring. Carnival is among the best bets. The cruise line is offering a voyage to the region that includes stops in Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta, all of which are among the top ports. The seven-night journey, departing from Los Angeles, also offers three days at sea. Noteworthy amenities on the Carnival Splendor include the Seaside Theater, and an expanded Camp Carnival for the kids. There's also a Punchliner Comedy Club, and numerous pools and dining venues.

Departure: May 10
Starting price: $570 (about $63 a night)
A unique, nine-night, round-trip offering, this cruise starts in Baltimore, Maryland, and takes guests to Boston, Massachusetts; Portland, Maine; Bar Harbor, Maine; St. John, New Brunswick, and Halifax, Nova Scotia, before returning home.

Departure: May 14
Starting Price: $599 (about $86 a night)
Yet another option is spending seven nights with Norwegian exploring the Western Caribbean. Departing from Miami, Florida, this cruise includes Costa Maya, Mexico; Harvest Caye, Belize; Roatan, Honduras and Cozumel, Mexico. During the two days you'll have on board the Norwegian Getaway, there will be much to see and do. The ship includes a quarter-mile oceanfront promenade lined by restaurants and bars. There's also an Aqua Park and three-story sports complex with a rock wall. For still more activity, the ship offers the largest ropes course at sea.

Departure: May 12
Starting Price: $599 (about $86 a night)
Offering a slightly different view of the Caribbean, MSC will take cruisers from Miami, Florida, to Philipsburg, St. Maarten; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Nassau, Bahamas, before heading for home. The seven-night itinerary also includes three days at sea aboard the newly completed MSC Seaside, which offers a massive interactive water park that features five slides.

Departure: May 12
Starting Price: $653 (about $93 a night)
Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas will sail from San Juan, Puerto Rico to a long list of ports that are travelers' favorites, including Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Basseterre, St. Kitts; St. John's, Antigua; Castries, St. Lucia; and finally Bridgetown, Barbados, an island recently named the most satisfying destination on the planet. The seven-night sailing includes one day at sea to check out ship amenities and activities ranging from an ice-skating rink to a rock-climbing wall and a Vitality Spa.